Warriors bring back the joy in convincing win over Nuggets

1of8Golden State Warriors center DeMarcus Cousins (0) blocks Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray (27) in the first half of an NBA game at Oracle Arena on Friday, March 8, 2019, in Oakland, Calif.Photo: Santiago Mejia / The Chronicle

2of8Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson (11) shoots against the Denver Nuggets in the first half of an NBA game at Oracle Arena on Friday, March 8, 2019, in Oakland, Calif.Photo: Santiago Mejia / The Chronicle

3of8Warriors guard Klay Thompson shoots a 3-point field goal in the first half against the Nuggets, a team that beat Golden State by 31 points earlier this season.Photo: Santiago Mejia / The Chronicle

4of8Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) celebrates Klay Thompson's three-point basket against the Denver Nuggets in the first half of an NBA game at Oracle Arena on Friday, March 8, 2019, in Oakland, Calif.Photo: Santiago Mejia / The Chronicle

5of8Golden State Warriors forward Kevin Durant (35) dunks in the first half of an NBA game against the Denver Nuggets at Oracle Arena on Friday, March 8, 2019, in Oakland, Calif.Photo: Santiago Mejia / The Chronicle

6of8Golden State Warriors center DeMarcus Cousins (0) drives against Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) in the first half of an NBA game at Oracle Arena on Friday, March 8, 2019, in Oakland, Calif.Photo: Santiago Mejia / The Chronicle

7of8Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) is defended by the Denver Nuggets in the first half of an NBA game at Oracle Arena on Friday, March 8, 2019, in Oakland, Calif.Photo: Santiago Mejia / The Chronicle

8of8***combo cutline*Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) pumps up the crowd at halftime in an NBA game against the Denver Nuggets at Oracle Arena on Friday, March 8, 2019, in Oakland, Calif.Photo: Santiago Mejia / The Chronicle

On Wednesday morning, while reviewing their most lopsided home loss of the Steve Kerr era, the Warriors paused the video for a heated discussion. One by one, players stressed the need to regain a sense of purpose.

Golden State knew that if it didn’t rediscover its inspiration soon, it was at risk of letting a rough regular-season stretch bleed into the playoffs. Unlike last year, when they coasted until the stakes heightened in mid-April, the Warriors are keenly aware that suddenly exerting all their powers in the postseason might not be so easy this time.

In its 122-105 win over the Nuggets on Friday night at Oracle Arena, Golden State returned to its joyful ways, sending a stark message in the process: It is still the team to beat in the Western Conference. Though the Nuggets have outpaced expectations this season, it appears they would have a tough time contending with the Warriors in a seven-game series.

“Our guys were really focused and locked in from the start,” Warriors head coach Steve Kerr said. “You could feel the energy and the intensity. … We’re not just going to flip it all around in one night, but this was a great start to getting back on track and playing like ourselves.”

Seven weeks removed from its 31-point win in Denver, Golden State again played the role of bully, moving two games ahead of the Nuggets for the West’s top seed. On display were the game-changing bursts and egalitarian style that had been absent recently.

The Warriors, who opened the night mired in a 3-5 skid, shot 45-for-84 (53.6 percent) from the field and 18-for-35 (51.4 percent) from 3-point range. A Denver offense ranked fifth in the league had little answer for Golden State’s switch-heavy scheme, only getting a combined 25 points from its two top options, Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray.

“Our entire team’s defense was horrible the last two weeks. Everybody picked it up tonight,” Warriors forward Draymond Green said. “One guy wasn’t the reason we were struggling. We were all the reason.”

After missing two games because of a sore right knee, Klay Thompson dazzled, hitting nine 3-pointers to finish with a game-high 39 points (27 in the first half). With Thompson leading the way, the Warriors raced to an early 20-6 lead.

“It was huge having Klay back,” Kerr said. “He was amazing, awesome.”

His team up 17 at intermission, Thompson exclaimed to NBC Bay Area’s Kerith Burke, “We’re having fun out here!”

It might as well have been the motto of the night. After four weeks defined by lethargy and sloppiness, Golden State started to enjoy itself again. At no point was that more apparent than when Stephen Curry spotted up behind the arc late in the third quarter, drained a 30-footer and, as a capacity crowd roared, unleashed his signature shimmy.

To nearly reach the 40-point mark, Thompson was hyper-efficient, missing only nine of his 22 shots. Kevin Durant delivered plenty of highlights as well as he chipped in 26 points on only 15 attempts.

It all was a welcome sight for a team well aware that the playoffs are only five weeks away. Though the Warriors aren’t concerned about their regular-season record, they do want to make sure they’re practicing good habits ahead of the games that matter most.

During its recent rut, Golden State had too often jogged back in transition, missed box-outs and stared down big first-quarter deficits. The nadir came when the Warriors were blown out by 33 points at home Tuesday against Boston.

After the game, Kerr called his team’s effort “embarrassing” and demanded it play with more “anger.” Durant, later relayed his coach’s comments, shot back that he thought they were supposed to play with “joy.”

Wednesday’s heated team meeting allowed players a chance to air out their grievances. By Friday, they seemed unburdened. And it came at an ideal time. After Sunday’s game against Phoenix, Golden State has a four-game trip that begins against two of its biggest threats in the West: Houston on Wednesday and Oklahoma City on Saturday.

“I like the direction we went tonight,” Durant said. “Hopefully we can keep it up.”

Connor Letourneau moved to the Golden State Warriors beat in September 2016 after a year covering Cal. Previously, he spent two years covering the Oregon State Beavers for The Oregonian. Letourneau is a University of Maryland alum who has interned for The Baltimore Sun and blogged for The New York Times. A Portland, Ore., native, he is interested in telling the stories that extend beyond the field or court.